Record Reviews

OLLI AHVENLAHTI ~ BANDSTAND LOVE 126 ~ FINLAND ~ Jazz Debut album by the brilliant Finnish keyboards player, recorded in 1975. Ahvenlahti studied music at the Helsinki Sibelius Academy and later at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Upon his return to Finland, he formed a superb quintet with Swedish trumpeter Bertil Löfgren and Finnish jazz masters - Pekka Pöyry (sax), Pekka Sarmanto (bass) and Esko Rosnell (drums) – and recorded this debut album, for which he wrote all the music. Strongly influenced by the jazz / rock and jazz / funk movements, he masterly incorporated those influences with European melody lines, creating a set of wonderfully melodic and yet beautifully swinging tunes, performed with taste and gusto by the quintet. The album flows easily, although the music is anything but trivial. For people who love melodic jazz, masterly executed, this album will prove a continuous source of pleasure for years.

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

FAMILY ~ BANDSTAND (EXPANDED EDITION) MYSTIC 173 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 7th album (recorded 1972) by the same line-up as the previous album and as strong musically, with excellent compositions and superb performances. By this time Family were probably one of the top 5 Prog bands in the world, what a pity that only very few fans noticed it. If you never heard it - you must, if you did - you must hear it again!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

FAMILY ~ BANDSTAND / IT`S ONLY A MOVIE BGO 856 (Barcode: 5017261208569) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2009 7th and 8th albums by the fantastic British Prog band FamilyFind albums by this artist, one of the most imaginative, sophisticated and excellent bands of the 1970s. "BandstandFind albums with this title" was recorded by the same excellent lineup that created its predecessor "FearlessFind albums with this title" and the live album. In spite of extensive touring and some chart success Family sadly remained somewhere in the back trenches of the turbulent Rock scene, never actually achieving the recognition they truly deserved. By the time the recorded the second album included here, which was to be their swansong, the band was clearly running out of steam as far as climbing the commercial top was concerned. Poli PalmerFind albums by this artist and John WettonFind albums by this artist left (Wetton joined King CrimsonFind albums by this artist) and were replaced by keyboardist Tony AshtonFind albums by this artist and bassist Jim CreganFind albums by this artist. The last album was much more relaxed that the previous material, but definitely still a great piece of musical ingenuity, even if the critics and many of the band´s fans thought otherwise. In retrospect its whimsical approach to songwriting and Jazzy undertones sound truly excellent. The quality of the songwriting, as well as the extended instrumental work, is staggering and completely uncompromised by the passage of time. This is the Holy Grail of early Prog, regardless the fact that most Prog historians and music critics often fail to recognize the band´s contribution to the genre. This remastered edition spiced up with many bonus tracks is a must to any collector of Prog albums, as no collection can be complete without them. Absolutely essential!

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend